Damage control orthopaedics

Abstract

Emergency procedures aimed at rapid reduction and fixation and spanning of periarticular fractures has been termed “damage control orthopaedics”. In severely injured patients, early definitive fixation of fractures may not be appropriate. Recent studies showed that in multiple trauma, DCO is the best option for management of patients who are unstable and in extremis. The paper presents a case of such a control in a 34-year-old patient who sustained polytrauma on 20.10.2016. Primary medical care was conducted at a local hospital. Ten hours after the injury, the patient was transported to the Bari-Ilizarov orthopaedic centre for further management. On admission, he was in a traumatic shock. Radiographic study showed a comminuted fracture of the left femur, medial condylar fracture of the ipsilateral femur, comminuted fractures of both bones of the shin, left wrist sprain, and contusion of the head. Osteosynthesis of the left femoral shaft was performed with a Kuntscher nail and additionally with the Ilizarov fixator. When patient’s condition stabilized on the next day, osteosynthesis of the tibia was performed with the Ilizarov apparatus and the wrist was fixed with a plaster cast.